The Blarney is still trying to wrap its head around Notre Dame’s underachieving 8-4 season (How can the college football season move so fast? Now, it’s waiting time, and as Tom Petty noted once, that is the hardest part. Yes, the Champs Sports Bowl is inconsequential.). This team (and schedule) had 10 wins and a BCS game written all over it (Stanford and USC are the only teams that were truly better, and those games still should have been much closer), but ended like every Notre Dame season since Lou left, with a taste in our collective mouths that would make The Tossed Salad Man feel sympathetic.

However, in this season of discontent, at least it was rather entertaining receiving angry mid-game texts from friends about the most hated man in an ND uniform that I can remember when things started to go wrong (a few guys that are close on the hatred scale are actually mentioned in the texts). That man? Tommy Rees, of course.

Here’s the hit list of some of the best texts:

“I hate Tommy worse than Ron Powlus.”

“I think even Clifford Jefferson could have picked Tommy off.”

“As far as Rees’ arm strength, no wonder Mike Floyd likes to drink.”

“He looks like a guy that Willingham would have recruited while playing the back 9.”

“If your throws can be charted as: “at the line of scrimmage”, “almost 5 yards”, “5 yards”, “still 5 yards”, and “interception”, then you might be Tommy Rees.”

“How did he tweak his knee ever? Don’t you have to move in some fashion to do that?”

“If Thomas Crown stole statues instead of Monet paintings, he would try to steal Tommy Rees. He’d probably still try to have sex with Rene Russo though.”

“Old Yeller was performing better when he got shot.”

“I would give my left nut for Kelly to put Hendrix in now. And I had big plans for my left nut on my wedding night.”

So, at least that part was good. It’d be nice to have a season that caused some good texts to be sent out though.

Another big test for Brian Kelly’s team, another failure. A loss isn’t surprising, but the way that Kelly’s offense has been stonewalled againt decent-to-good competition is beyond disappointing. Again, the Andrew Luck version of the Cardinal is a legit top 10 team that can pound on many, but ND made their defense (and USC’s which is good, not great) look like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. ND had made incremental improvements in the program, but where is the “boom!” that has taken place much faster in BK’s other stops? The future of the program is not exactly hanging in the balance, but the BK hire has certainly lost some luster. As it was for Lou Holtz and many others, year three will be a big one for Brian Kelly. On to some thoughts:

1.) I think that the offensive line isn’t as good as we thought. I know the numbers were good. The Irish were on pace to have there best rushing season in forever, and at one point, didn’t give up a single sack for a month. Hell, up until Stanford, they were averaging less than one sack a game. However, the Irish couldn’t move the ball against any of the defenses that had at least a few athletes, ans completely bogged down in the biggest games of the Brian Kelly era. You are measured in football on what you do against the best competition. The loss of Cave hurt, but injuries happen, and the fact that one guy was so important to that unit isn’t a good sign. BK needs to continue upgrading this unit-they can play winning football, but not championship football.

2.) I think I am scared to death of the lack of playmakers on offense with the loss of Michael Floyd. His like does not come around often. Enjoy him in the bowl game. Lament that the deep ball was taken away from him this year, and not because of the machinations of any opponent.

3.) I think that the young defensive line is about to start destroying people. Perhaps some of ND’s poor starts can be attributed to some youth at very key positions on defense (the Irish got beat on early in three of their four losses). But man, the signs of a unit soon-to-be feared sure are there. Louis Nix, Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt (would have been nice to have him against the Trees), Ishaq Williams, and Troy Niklas are going to hurt some people. Period.

4.) I think it’s time to let Hendrix and Golson compete for real. I’ve been a Rees backer, but will not do so blindly. Physical attributes tend to be overrated at quarterback (the three best quarterbacks in football for the last ten years are nowhere near the most physically gifted), and Rees does have good intangible qualities. However, whether the qualities are tangible or intangible, the end game is to have results. Rees does not have good results (in record, stats, or the eyeball test) against the tougher competition. I’m not proclaiming the rise of Hendrix or anybody else, but it’s time to see if the two kids with physical gifts can play the position and give the Irish a chance to make a jump in performance.

5.) I think that I’m going to start watching all of ND’s big games at bars again. I usually like to watch them at home, so I can be totally in tune with the game, and not have distractions, but it is easier to get over a loss with the help of drink and pretty girls around. And ND does lose big games. Every time. Plus, when I try to hit on a chick and she laughs at me, at least I can look to the screen and see that at least I didn’t fare as bad as my beloved, pathetic Irish.

Paul Hornung, ND’ original “golden boy”, is the namesake for college football’s newest honor: “most versatile player” (a player that can help their team the most in a large variety of ways).

Hornung is one of college football’s all-time greats (think the original Rocket Ismail, plus he could throw, and play defense), the only player special enough to win the Heisman on a losing team, so his name belongs right up there with the Biletnikoffs and Nagurskis.

However, he might have even more fame for the statement “ND must lower admissions to get the black athlete and win”. Technically, he may be right on lowering admissions, he just made the mistake of using the qualifying term “black”. (That’s what we call racial profiling.)

So, occasionally in his honor, the Blarney will bring you Hornung’s Words of Wisdom, or technically true statements that are worded wrong, or perhaps show some type of prejudice/political incorrectness.

Paul Hornung’s Words of Wisdom For 11-24-11:

“Happy Thanksgiving to all! Not must to say here, other than: 1.) You can never have too much gravy, and 2.) Trees fall hard. The Irish are going to have to play their best game as far as being physical on each side of the line of scrimage to have a chance against Stanford.”